Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
I haven't posted in this thread in a week or two after having finished 'City on Fire' by Garth Risk Hallberg. I've spent quite a while weighing up my feelings on it and am no further forward with having done so. The era and setting were both so right; '70s New York feels like the city at its most interesting, but somehow it didn't satisfy me entirely. I'm not sure what it did wrong, as such, but I feel the concept may have been stronger than the final piece.
I wouldn't put anyone off reading it, though. 1970s New York remains a time and place I want more from, and Hallberg brings another voice into the mix.
Anyway, on to the next: 'Catastrophe: Europe Goes to War 1914', by Max Hastings. Glimpsing at the Amazon reviews it's perhaps not the most acclaimed book on the subject, but it might bring up a few new theories and connections I'd never considered before.
I wouldn't put anyone off reading it, though. 1970s New York remains a time and place I want more from, and Hallberg brings another voice into the mix.
Anyway, on to the next: 'Catastrophe: Europe Goes to War 1914', by Max Hastings. Glimpsing at the Amazon reviews it's perhaps not the most acclaimed book on the subject, but it might bring up a few new theories and connections I'd never considered before.
g3org3y said:
I know what you mean, I read for pleasure rather than out of duty to 'tick off' the classics. I've read enough to know what I like and what I don't.
I read Proust's Swann's Way [In Search of Lost Time Vol 1] a few years back. Didn't get on with it at all tbh. I know it's highly regarded in literary circles but I found it rather boring and not rewarding in the slightest. Unsurprisingly, I did not return for the other volumes.
Tried Proust when I was a teenager and couldn't get past the first chapter. Tried it again in my thirties and managed the first two volumes before entropy set in. Had another go in my fifties, did the lot, took me two years on and off though. I've read it twice more since then. I'm reading the original French version now, should only take a decade or so. I read Proust's Swann's Way [In Search of Lost Time Vol 1] a few years back. Didn't get on with it at all tbh. I know it's highly regarded in literary circles but I found it rather boring and not rewarding in the slightest. Unsurprisingly, I did not return for the other volumes.
Having met him in person at his Sheffield book signing last week i'm currently almost finished on Magnus Walker's autobiography, its quite interesting to read his full story, having gleaned bits and bobs from magazines, you tube etc.
light reading, but fair play to him for getting to where he is how he did!
light reading, but fair play to him for getting to where he is how he did!
Just finished - "The Heart's Invisible Furies" by John Boyne. About a gay Irishman growing up in 1950s - 60s Ireland and his adult life in Amsterdam, New York and Dublin. Full of humor and very thought provoking. I really enjoyed this - one of my standout books of the last 12 months. 5/5.
I've recently finished the new Stuart McBride, a standalone novel (not Logan McRae or Ash Henderson) but a good read nevertheless. After that I went through a David Baldacci book, "The Fix", which was also good.
Now I'm reading "Praying for Sleep" by Jeffrey Deaver, reasonably good but a bit hard going in some parts. I seem to have been reading it for much longer than the bookmark position suggests.
Now I'm reading "Praying for Sleep" by Jeffrey Deaver, reasonably good but a bit hard going in some parts. I seem to have been reading it for much longer than the bookmark position suggests.
toasty said:
Red Notice by Bill Browder. True story of making millions from Russian investments, the repercussions from corruption and a fight for justice. Shocking behaviour from the reds even in this day and age. 8/10
If it were fiction I'd agree with your 8/10 score. But as it's fact, I give it 9/10. An extraordinary and chilling account of despotic doings.Still on Russia, but a spook story, Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews is excellent. First of a trilogy, the final part is due around the end of this year. Well written and entertaining from a guy with over thirty years experience of the CIA. Good recipes too
IanA2 said:
toasty said:
Red Notice by Bill Browder. True story of making millions from Russian investments, the repercussions from corruption and a fight for justice. Shocking behaviour from the reds even in this day and age. 8/10
If it were fiction I'd agree with your 8/10 score. But as it's fact, I give it 9/10. An extraordinary and chilling account of despotic doings.Still on Russia, but a spook story, Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews is excellent. First of a trilogy, the final part is due around the end of this year. Well written and entertaining from a guy with over thirty years experience of the CIA. Good recipes too
That nothing much has changed in 100 years should come as no surprise when you have a president that has described himself as a 'Ckekist'.
Whilst not as high brow as some of the recent recommendations, this was a very enjoyable read.
It's also a very difficult book to sum up. It is a horror novel with a rather sardonic take on social media. It is centred around a lost video tape (or in this case manuscript) conceit and the unreliable narrator (or is he??). Both creepy and very very funny with rock star type lead protagonist with all of the associated hedonistic excess.
Already picked up for a movie by Ron Howard.
Just completed : "The First 15 lives of Harry August" by Claire North. Twisting story of a war / genocide between a community of people who are in a cycle of death and rebirth. The main character being on a mission to stop his friend from changing the future. Started off slow but wound up being unputdownable! Another 5/5 from me......
towser said:
Just completed : "The First 15 lives of Harry August" by Claire North. Twisting story of a war / genocide between a community of people who are in a cycle of death and rebirth. The main character being on a mission to stop his friend from changing the future. Started off slow but wound up being unputdownable! Another 5/5 from me......
that sounds interesting and good amazon reviews so added to my basketjust reading his bloody project about triple murder-promising so far
p1doc said:
that sounds interesting and good amazon reviews so added to my basket
just reading his bloody project about triple murder-promising so far
His Bloody Project is a great read.....liked the way they structured the story - I didn't realise until after I'd finished that it was a complete work of fiction.just reading his bloody project about triple murder-promising so far
Just started Margaret Atwood's 'Oryx and Crake'.
I went out to buy a copy of 'The Handmaid's Tale' on the back of watching the TV adaption but couldn't find one and bought this instead.
It's looking very good so far, another tale of a dystopian future that seems pretty relevant today.
I went out to buy a copy of 'The Handmaid's Tale' on the back of watching the TV adaption but couldn't find one and bought this instead.
It's looking very good so far, another tale of a dystopian future that seems pretty relevant today.
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